Operation: Training

Date: 29th February 1940 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 19 Squadron (12 Group) Motto: Possunt quia posse videnturt - 'They can because they think they can'

Type: Spitfire I

Serial: K9809

Code: QV-?

Base: RAF Duxford, Cambridgeshire

Location: 1.5 miles North East Duxford

Pilot: P/O. Horace Arthur Trenchard 40271 RAF Age 28. Killed

Not an operational loss - but so little is placed on 'accidents' - we are trying hard to address this. We place these type of pages to attract relatives to contact us with additional information - all these stories are important to remember, they all played a vital part.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at around 20:25 hrs on a night circuit and landing training exercise.

Shortly afterwards the pilot made a sudden turn to port at 1,200 ft but lost altitude and dived into the ground some 1.5 miles North East of RAF Duxford. The New Zealand pilot is buried at the local churchyard.

Burial details:

P/O. Horace Arthur Trenchard. Whittlesford Churchyard (SS. Mary And Andrew) . Row C. Grave 4. Born on the 05th March 1912, the son of Horace Arthur and Mary Cecelia Trenchard (née Hutchinson), of Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand. Prior to service worked as an assistant clerk at the Wellington Meat Export Company in the Wool Department, preparing wool samples. During this period Horace began flying with the Wellington Aero Club and the Wairarapa Aero Club. Horace also continued to play rugby being in the Johnsonville Rugby Clubs senior team. An experienced pilot with 776 flying hours logged.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, Porirua District Servicemen and Women website, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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